Interview by Helen Gilbert for the Australian Open official website (www.australianopen.com).
Maria Kirilenko, do you have a boyfriend?
Yes. We long together already. He’s a tennis player, his name is Igor Andreev.
Have you ever done any modelling?
I did for many magazines and also for Stella McCartney. I still wear her (tennis) clothes. I did some photo shooting for her. It was very good. I always have good moments. They are a very good team. They make very good clothes for me, very comfortable. It’s very nice. Every year we have a meeting with her team. Sometimes she [Stella] can be there, sometime she doesn’t have time and isn’t. But I am always trying the clothes to be comfortable. She’s the designer. I think she’s one of the best designers in the world and I trust her. She makes the best clothes.
How much fan mail do you receive?
I get a lot (of) letters and also on the website I get a lot of emails.
Have you ever had any funny requests from a fan?
Usually they ask ‘can I get your autograph’, and one said ‘can I kiss you?’. That was very funny. There was a lot of people and everybody asked (for) my signature and one said ‘can I kiss you?’.
How did you spend your off-season?
I had some holidays like everybody, and after I went to Valencia for five weeks to practice. My first tournament was Brisbane, where I got sick and didn’t play there, so New Year started a little bit unlucky. But I am positive. The year just start, I will keep working, I hope everything will be good.
How are you feeling now?
I just finished my doubles and today (friday) I played quite well, and I feel the ball very good. I need to play some singles matches, to win some matches and then I think I get again my confidence back.
What are your goals for 2009?
I don’t want to announce it, but if I reach it I will tell for sure.
What do you like about the Australian Open?
I like that it’s the first Grand Slam and I have a really good memory from last year where I reached the fourth round. Unfortunately I didn’t win here any matches [2009]. I like the city and already made some shopping because soon I’m going to get my birthday. My father already he gave me some presents, so it was cool, good presents.
What did you get?
I got the Louis Vuitton bag and a laptop – an Apple Mac. I was so sad and he wanted me to be a little bit cheered up.
Do you have a favourite Grand Slam?
Australian Open and US Open.
Do you go out for meals in the city or do you tend to stay in the hotel?
I go for dinner. I go to the beach. They have some good restaurants so I like to have dinner there. It depends. If I am really tired I take the restaurant close to the hotel; if not, I go out. There’s not really much time to go out and look the city, but after losing first match I went to the shops for three hours.
What is the best thing about your job?
I travel a lot and get to see all the countries. It’s individual, if you’re winning, you’re winning.
Do you have any superstitions?
No.
Which tennis players do you most admire?
Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Jennifer Capriati. I like the way they play, aggressive tennis. Kafelnikov was more like he would come to the net, make a lot of things, but Jennifer was hitting ball very hard. I like the way how she was hitting and tried to imitate her.
You like to cook. Have you got a favourite dish?
If I have time I like to do something special. If I am at home with my mum I always ask can you cook with me. I like to make Russian pancakes, big pancakes with the black caviar, it’s very nice.
What do you do when you meet up with your friends?
We go shopping or to the place where we was before. When you’re travelling you always thinking of home and good places where you have been. This year I hope everything will be good and when I go home I want to do a little bit of ski. Not far from my house we have fake hills, they made nice hills, different levels. I like to snowboard, but I’m very bad at that. I think it’s a little bit dangerous but I’m really careful.
What’s your favourite nail varnish colour?
I like the light pink, natural. I don’t like the bright colours.
Would you ever do a bungee jump or a skydive?
Never.
Maria, what can you say about your two first matches of this season, in Sydney against Kleybanova and then, in Melbourne against Errani ?
I will tell you when I reach it ! 
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